The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-29
HENDERsoN,s EXPLOIT.
A Well Known Young Mans Balloon
Ascension and It's History.
Fron, The paiinoIeIphia Press.


From the Philadelphia Press.
James Henderson. who is distinguished in
many characters, among them that of the
friend and hacker of DominIck F. McCaf-
frey, pugilist. has essayed to reach fame LII
another role. Since he received quite
comfortable little fortune by legacy he has
aspired to Ego up in balloon" He went
up ON Thursday, Sept. Is, to satisfy his am
bition.
Several months ago Prof John Wise, the
Rronaut, was approached by Mr.. Hender-
son, who was DESTROYS of purchasing seat
in the Professors balloon whenever he made
his next ascension. AS an evidence OF good
faith Mr.. Henderson pressed upon the zero
naut five crisp S10notes as a retainer When
next the balioonst started upon trip
among the clouds Mr.. Henderson was not
on hand. He was hunting alligators and
eating tropical fruits right from the tree
with Mr.. McCaffrey in Florida. Prof
Wise, who believes his months ex-
istence not fully rounded unless he
has an ascension, concluded that during the
Constitutional Centennial celebration would
be good time TO go up, but the Centennial
Commission declined to invest in an EXHIBIT
so lofty. In this emergency the Professor
met Mr.. Henderson, and suddenly remem-
bered that he had not yet given value for
the crisp $40 notes.
An arrangement was made whereby Mr.
Henderson was to pay for the gas and
thereby secure an ascension in the Indie
pendence."
Mr.. Henderson was determined that the
balloon ascension, with himself as the par
ticular attraction, should not be a failure
He started subscription among the bust
ness men on Broad street, between Diamond
and Dauphln. He raised S7S paid for the
gas and when the great civic procession
started down Broad street that day the bal
loon began to fill with gas. Mr.. Henderson
was the first to jump in, and Prof. Wises
Independence slowly rose, the drag-rope
was paid out by Prof Wise. At
height of 1,500 feet she began to
move over the city in southerly direction
When about Point Breeze she descended
into northerly current and came back up
Broad street. At Spring Garden street the
drag-rope touched the tops of the houses
and the balloon swooped toward the earth
1t was dangerous place to land and young
Mr.. Wise called upon his companion to
throw out some ballast Henderson seized
bag of ballast, lifted it to the edge of the
car and sixty five pounds of sand was sifted
into the eyes and mouths of the people be-
low.
HOW GREAT THE DANGER WAS,
Heavens! What have you done!" cried
young Wise, and his voice reached Hender-
sons ears at an altitude of 5000 feet.
Before the amateur balloonist could reply,
the Independence was 10000 feet above the
earth and still ascending. There was dan
ger that the enormous pressure upon the
balloon would burst the bag and collapse the
air-ship. Higher and higher it went, and
the great bag was distended until it cracked
Henderson did not realize his danger, but
young Wise did He seized the valve-rope
The balloon came to standstill, and hung
a mere speck in the sky, $4,000 feet above
the city. The aeronauts breathed with diff
ficulty. Young Wise chung to the valve
rope and the balloon began to descend. 1t
fell in an easterly direction, and at about
o'clock landed in field near Haddonfield,
N. j. Mr.. Henderson returned to the city
that night to receive the congratulations of
his friends. He has been receiving them for
Several DAVIS